I was at my local Big 5 in Fresno, CA. Developed a good relationship with the Manager. Purchased one yesterday that appears to be in pristine condition. Hex receiver with matching serial numbers all around. They honored the $99.99 raincheck. They would only sell me one rifle. I was told that the Big 5 chain bought the remaining stock of this rifle to the tune of close to 30,000 units. Just an FYI.

I know it is had to accept. I was told that when they ran out of the $99.99 special rifles, they had ordered at that time 9000 and they were at their distribution center last week. If it is true, they pretty much cornered the mosin market.

I know it is had to accept. I was told that when they ran out of the $99.99 special rifles, they had ordered at that time 9000 and they were at their distribution center last week. If it is true, they pretty much cornered the mosin market.

I'm not sure of the exact numbers produced or estimated amount produced. We can see that they are in the Mosin market as a large retailer, that has a serious interest in the recent demand of this rifle.

I'm not sure of the exact numbers produced or estimated amount produced. We can see that they are in the Mosin market as a large retailer, that has a serious interest in the recent demand of this rifle.

Their sheer buying power demonstrates the ability to be a major player. For my own knowledge, are there any other retail shops that can purchase numbers like this and have done so recently. Thanks for your input.

This is my first mosin. So, I'm excited to get it in 11 days and counting. I think that Big 5 has some that are Century imports and PW imports? We can cross our fingers that they have another $89.99 sale.

This is my first mosin. So, I'm excited to get it in 11 days and counting. I think that Big 5 has some that are Century imports and PW imports? We can cross our fingers that they have another $89.99 sale.

Welcome to the club. Now go apply for a curio and relic license and you can get a mosin shipped right to your door and not have to wait for it. The infection is spreading

Even though I typically despise Big 5 I do hold a tiny little special place in my heart for them since I got my first M44 from them (back when they were a dime a dozen) which got me into the whole collecting racket, I guess I can also blame them for me being broke now.

Even though I typically despise Big 5 I do hold a tiny little special place in my heart for them since I got my first M44 from them (back when they were a dime a dozen) which got me into the whole collecting racket, I guess I can also blame them for me being broke now.

Congratulations, Zaskar! Glorious Vintovka Mosina izz greatest vintovka in vorld! Now go have some wodka for make great celebration!

One other thing. When (not if) the cheap milsurp 7.62x54R dries up, you might want to pick up a reloading press, some dies, and some Prvi Partizan reloadable 7.62x54R ammo. If you don't run max loads through it on a regular basis and neck-size the brass, that brass'll last you for quite a few reloads.

I hate myself for looking at all the Big 5 newspaper adds for decades when they were selling various mil surplus rifles for next to nothing, and not going down and taking a serious look. It took youtube for me to realize that the rifles were not just wall hangers and that you could get ammo etc.

I know I am in the minority but I really like Big 5. In my town they let me check the merchandise and will honor sale prices after or before the fact. They call me over when they see me come in if there's a darling milsurp that hasn't been claimed.

That said, congrats. You did better on your first Mosin than I did - I turned down a 1924 hex for a 1940 round in sweeter looking wood. And I have heard that also, from my manager, that the Day of the Milsurps is possibly over when the M/N 91/30's reach the end. Classic Arms also put this info out.

Congrats again. I love my mosins (2 snipers, 2 91/30's, 1 38, 1 44, 1 Finn 39) a lot. And it started in Big 5. So thanks for this post and thanks to Big 5 and the good employees some of them have.

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rally Dave

Haha....too much AR shooting and you become a wennie!
The cure: Buy a Mosin M44 and shoot 100 rounds as fast as you can. When you can handle that, you are good to go.

Leninade. So fun, so wrong. Bought 4 bottles at a retro candy store and never tasted them but who can resist sayings on the bottle like "get hammered and sickled" and "It's either this or the Gulag."

Anyway I do think we're not going to see a lot of cheap Mosins in a year or so from now. And Classic Arms did send a warning email about this to its subscribers. Subsequently apparently everyone found more supplies and prices are low.

The quote I remember from Classic Arms is "It will be like the 'M44's and "M38's. First they were cheap; then they were gone."

Maybe some weird country like Bulgaria could sell us Milsurps next; hope so.

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rally Dave

Haha....too much AR shooting and you become a wennie!
The cure: Buy a Mosin M44 and shoot 100 rounds as fast as you can. When you can handle that, you are good to go.

Big 5 does carry 2 importers of Mosins. Depending on store they may stock both or only one.

__________________
“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”

I assume this will not be my last Mosin. Big 5 has been good to me. The Mgr, is a guy and lets you do whatever you want to inspect them. Trust me, my eye does not drift far as current GF is retired peace officer.

I assume this will not be my last Mosin. Big 5 has been good to me. The Mgr, is a guy and lets you do whatever you want to inspect them. Trust me, my eye does not drift far as current GF is retired peace officer.

I am taking my $99 Big5 Mosin to the range for the first time tomorrow (weather permitting). Bought some stripper clips online to speed reloads and if I can hit paper will probably try the Military bolt gun competition.

It is a Century import and I wish I could have lucked out with a Hex receiver. Will look to add one when my 03FFL shows up.

__________________
“The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles.”

I got a Mosin with a round receiver at Big 5 recently, $129 or thereabouts. A 42. The numbers match, and I can shoot groups at 25 yards standing through irons. It's a pretty straight shooter, even for a beginner to intermediate riflist like myself. Now I want the PU scope for it and a bent bolt.

Does anyone know a gunsmith in the Los Angeles area that can drill and tap this, and bend the bolt? I don't want to billy-joe-bob this thing up myself.

This is the route I should have went for my dads B day gift instead of the group buy I got into in Jan. and still haven't received my goods. I hope something happens before my 9 yr old son graduates from college.

Little blast from the past. At Easter today, my father, WWII combat Vet, pulls out a 1933 Bannerman Military Catalouge. He is 91 and I'm the oldest at 42. We look to page 54. Russian Springfield rifle, looks like a Mosin, converted to caliber .30. $14.00. I even think I saw one that said Westinghouse $12.00. Amazing what you could buy back in the day.